Fall 2026 Premier Firearms & Militaria Auction
November 6th, 7th, & 8th, 2026
This auction will feature an outstanding collection of items spanning multiple categories including Modern, Military, Sporting, & Antique firearms & militaria! Below is just a small grouping of select highlights from the massive offering to be featured in this upcoming sale.
FAMOUS CHUCK CONNORS “THE RIFLEMAN” 1892 WINCHESTER SADDLE RING CARBINE
| Cal. 44-40. | S# 72142. | 01-29653/JS |
This is the exact “big loop” rapid firing Model 1892 carbine Chuck Connors is shown holding in 1994 magazine cover, crystal clear as grain in stock matches perfectly. There is also a 1993 letter from Connor’s executive administrator on “Chuck Connors Productions” stationery stating the rifle was used “for personal appearances, rodeo promotions, the 1991 video “The Best of the Wild West and in the movie “The Gambler-The Luck of the Draw” in which Chuck was the host & narrator”. Chuck Connors (1921-1992) was iconic movie & TV cowboy, at 6 feet, 5 inches, he was giant among cowboy actors. His earlier career he played NBA basketball for Boston Celtics 1946-1948 and then major league baseball for Brooklyn Dodgers for 1949-1951, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs and decided sports were not going to be his career. He was cast into his first of many roles on the big screen and TV in 1952, and was soon cast acting with biggest names in Hollywood. He was picked out of 40 potential actors to play Lucas McCain, but turned the role down due to poor salary offered. Producers came back to up the ante and give him 5% share of the production, unheard of the time. Producers after seeing reaction of their children to Connor’s role in “Old Yeller”, they couldn’t look further. The Rifleman ran from 1958-1963, 168 episodes and was among the top Westerns ever made, still on TV today in reruns. This is not the prop carbine used on the TV show, this carbine was presented to Connors by his lifetime friend Maurice Hunt in 1990 prior to his induction into “Western performers Hall of Fame” at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City 1991. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Greg Martin Auction catalog and paid invoice for lot 1234, March 14, 2010; copy of magazine cover showing Connors holding this rifle, file of information and provenance. ANTIQUE. GUN
